Metal fence post leg bending and forming machine



July 21, 1959 M. A.-STEINHAUER METAL FENCE POST LEG BENDING AND FORMINGMACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct.

INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS y 21, 1959 M. A. STEINHAUER 2,895,528

METAL FENCE POST LEG BENDING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed Oct. 8, 1957 4Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR MARTIN A.$TEINHAUER ATTORNEYS July 21, 1959 M A.STEINHAUER 2,

METAL FENCE POST LEG BENDING AND FORMING MACHINE Filed'Oct. a, 1957 4Shee ts-Sheet 3 MARTIN A. STEINHAUER. mm, wm m ATTORNEYS M. A.STEINHAUER 2,895,528

July 21, 1959 METAL FENCE POST LEG BENDING AND FORMING MACHINE FiledOct. 8, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8

lFlG. 9.

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INVENT OR s AR'DIN ASTBINHAUER ATTORNEYS United States Patent ice 2 895528 METAL FEN E POST LEG AND FORMING MACHINE Martin A. Steinhaii'er,High Bridge, NJ. Apphcati'on ()ctoher s, 1957, Serial mm 9 Claims. Cl;153-45) This invention relates to apparatus for slitting and formingfence posts of the type described and claimed in my cb-pen'dingapplication Serial No. 413,379 which was filed March 1, 1954 and nowabandoned.

In my application aforesaid, a fence post is described and claimed inwhichthe fence post is H-shaped in cross section and has three legsformed from the body member extending outwardly at right angles theretoat approximately a 120 angle to each other, one of the legs being formedfrom the web of the body member, and the other two legs being formedfrom the sides thereof, with a prong for insertion into the groundformed from and atthe end ef each of the legs and extending atapproximately right angles to the remainder thereof. Manual cutting andbending of sueh H shaped members would be inost uneconomical and themist o'f prducing a fence post by such manual piocedures would beprohibitive;

By the present invention I have provided navel apparatus fer slittingsuch H=shaped body members and thereafter for bending the web portionand the two side portions thereof to form the legs of the fence postwith prongs fer insertion into theground extending at right angles toeach leg. With such apparatus it is now possible to slit the H-"shapedbody members and forth the same into fence posts in a rapid andeconomical manner making itcornmereially feasible to Ve'nd such feneeposts in cornpetition with posts at the t pes heretofore kntiwn.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide novelapparatus for slitting an end of a metal rneinher which is H shape'd incross section to separate the weh from the twti sides thereof and t6thereafter bend and form the web and the two sides of the member intothree legs extending at approximately a 120 angle to each th'e'i with 'apren'g' at the end of each leg extending at apprexirhateiya right anglethereto;

Another (abject is to provide siih apparatus in which the slitting ofthe l-l-s'haped member is done in a single shearing operation and thebending and forming of the legs of the fence post is performed in asingle bending and fannin operation.

Another object of the present inventifin is to provide novel apparatusfor bending and fbrming metallic memhere in which the amount and degreeof bending is accurately condoned.

Another object is to provide such apparatus which is relatively sinipleto construct, relatively simple and easy to operate by inexperiencedpersonnel; and which is of simple and rugged construction requiringminimum maintenance and repair.

Apparatus within the present inventive concept is capable of variousmechanieal embodiments, one of which is shown in the accompanyingdrawings to illustrate the inrehash. This illustrative embodiment of thepresent concept should in noway be construed as defining or limiting thesame and reference should be had to the appended claims to determine thescope of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersindicate like parts, Fig. l is a side view of an 2,895,528 Patented July21, 1959 2 illustrative embediment of bending apparatus in accordancewith the present concept showing the hydraulic systern for operating theslide and the loeation of the slitted H-shaped meinberwith-respeet tothe bending dies at the start of the bendingop'erati'oh;

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the embodiment of Fig. 1 showing indetail the arrangement of the mechanism for holding the slitted H-shapedmember on the slide;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of apparatus for slitting the end bf theH-shaped member to separate the web from the sides thereof;

Fig; 4 is a view of the slit H-shaped-tnember before the bendingoperation;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail pers ective view of a portion of theembodiments of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the bending dies in'enlargeddetail;

Fig; '6 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of theembodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 shb'wing the position of the severalelements thereof when the H-shaped member has entered the bending diesand the bending and forming operation has begun.

Fig. 7 is aside view of a portion of the embodinient of Figs. 1 and 2showing a further step in the bending and tori-hing operation;

Fig. 8 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 7 showing the position ofthese'veral elements of the apparatus upon completion 6f the bending andforming operation;

Fig. 9 is a side view corresponding to Fig. 8 showing the posit-ion ofthe several elements when. the completely formed fence post has beenwithdrawn from the forming dies;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a'portion or theembodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 it) show the construction and fneth'od (5fpperation' of the bending loop; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of acompleted fence post formed in the apparatus of Figs. l'l0.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 3 and 4 the apparatus forslitting an and of H-shaped member 20 is there shown; H-shape'dnieiriber 20 is provided with side portions 21 and 22 and Web portion 23which web portion may be provided with an upstanding longitudinallyextending rib 24 to correspond to ribs 25 and 26 of sides 21 and 22,respectively, irined by the shearing operation. Member 20 is sheared bya suitably actuated vertically reciprocating shear having a base 27provided with upstanding spaced parallel receivers 28 and 29; Receivers28 and 29 are longitudinally 'cut away at 30 and 31, respebtiv'ely, toreceive the lower edges (if sides 21 and 22, respectively, of member 20during the shearing operation.

A suitable shear head 32 is driven in reciprocating movement by aconnecting rod 33 and carries die 34. Die 34 previded with spacedparallel cutting edges 35 and 36 which are separated by a longitudinallyextending recess 37 shaped to receiye upstanding ridge '24 of 'web 23.Shearing edges 35 and 36 are arranged angularly with respect to base 32so that a true shearing adti'citi is obtained when downward movement ofhead 32 brings cutting ed es 35 and 36 into Contact with web 23.

Edges 35 and 36 are $6 spaced that upon shearing of web 23 upstandingridges 25 and 26 will be left on sides 21 and 22 corresponding to rib 24of web 23. During the downward shearing r'iidtiori of die 34 web 23 isbent downwardly into the space he ween receivers 28 and 29 and sides 21and 22 are bent oiitwardly in lesser degree from web 23.

After the shearing operation is completed, irieniberzo is sheared amarhanyshapea as shown in Fig; 4 and is then either automatically orrnaniially transfefired t6 the bending and forming apparatus of Figs. 1and 2. This bending and femihga params is suitably mounted iipon a base38 and includes a bed 39' upon which is suitably mounted a cylinder 40enclosing a piston, not shown,

this fluid under pressure through pipe 46 to relief valve 47 and fromrelief valve 47 through pipe 48 to manually actuated valve 49.

Valve 49 is provided with return piping 50 to tank 44 and relief valve47 is connected to tank 44 through pipe 51. One side of manuallyactuated valve 49 is connected by pipe 52 to the right side of cylinder40, as seen in Fig. 1, and the other sideof valve 49 is connected bypipe 53 to the left side of cylinder 40 as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, valve49 being actuated by any suitable manual means such as lever 54.

When motor 42 is energized hydraulic fluid under pressure is supplied tovalve 49 and, upon suitable actuation of lever 54, is supplied either topipe 52 or to pipe 53 to drive piston rod 41 in the desired direction,the fluid on the low pressure side of the piston being returned to tank44 through the appropriate pipe 52 or 53 and return pipe 50.

Piston rod 41 is connected at '55 to a slide 56 which is mounted forreciprocal movement on bed 39 between side rails 57 and 58 (Fig. 6) withroller bearings 59 reducing friction between bed 39 and slide 56. Slide56 is provided with an end plate 60 which extends above the uppersurface 61 thereof.

Spaced pairs of parallel blocks 62 and 63 and 64 and 65 are suitablysecured to the upper surface 61 of slide 56 as by Welding and are spacedapart sufliciently to receive member 20 therebetween. A lockbar 66 ispivoted at 67 to block 63 and is notched at 68 to engage bolt 69 mountedin block 62. A similar lockbar 70 is pivoted at 71 on block 65 and isnotched at 72 to engage bolt 73 mounted in block 64. A connecting rod 74is pivotally connected at 75 and 76 to lockbars 66 and 70, respectively,and is provided with an actuating handle 77.

When handle 77 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 2 lockbars 66 and 70pivot about pivots 67 and 71, respectively, and disengage from bolts 69and 73 and rotate to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 sothat a sheared member 20 may be placed between blocks 62 and 63 andbetween blocks 64 and 65 with the unsheared end thereof in engagementwith face plate 60. Handle 77 is then moved to the right as seen in Fig.2 and lockbars 66 and 70 rotate about pivots 67 and 71, respectively, sothat notches 68 and 72 thereof engage bolts 69 and 73, respectively, tosecure member 20 in position between blocks 62 and 63 between blocks 64and 65.

The left end of slide 56 is provided with a hook-shaped member 78 (Fig.which is pivoted thereto at 79. Member 78 is provided with a tailpiece80 which extends downwardly into engagement with guide rails 81 and 82which are secured to bed 39. Upon reciprocating motion of slide 56tailpiece 80 travelling in the track between guides 81 and 82 rotateshook member 78 about pivot 79 into and out of position surroundingmember 20.

' As slide 56 moves to the left as seen in the several figures,

hook-shaped member 78 is moved in counterclockwise rotation as seen inFig. 10 to surround member to control the bending of the legs of thefence post as will appear more fully hereinafter.

As seen in the several figures, the bending and forming dies are mountedupon a post 83 secured at the left end of bed 39. Post 83 carries ahorizontal shaft 84 which supports a compression spring 85' and atubular member 86. Member 86 slides upon shaft 84 against the tension ofspring 85. As best seen in Fig. 5, member 86 is axially slotted at 87,88 and 89, slots 87, 88 and 89 being disposed at approximately 120angles with respect to each other. Uprights 90, 91 and 92 are secured toshaft 84 and pass through the.,,adjacent, slots 87, 88 or 89,respectively, when member 86 is in its extreme left position as shown inFig. 5. Uprights 93, 94 and 95 are secured to member 86 and extendparallel to members 90, 91 and 92, respectively. Die tubes 96, 97 and 98are mounted for rotation on bolts 99, 100 and 101, respectively, passingthrough the ends of uprights 93, 94 and 95, respectively, and when innormal position lie upon bevel surfaces 102, 103 and 104, respectively,of members 90, 91 and 92, respectively. A spring member 105 passesaround die tubes 97 and 98 to assure that they engage the bevel surfaces103 and 104, respectively, be fore the bending and forming operation andin the posi' tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Suitably secured to member 86 is downwardly depending guide plate 106which extends into a suitable slot 107 in base 39 to prevent rotation ofmember 86 during the bending and forming operation.

The sequence of the bending and forming operation is shown in Figs. 1,2, 6, 7, 8 and 9. With member 20 mounted on slide 56 and held inposition by lock bars 66 and 70 with one end engaging plate 60, whenlever 54 is moved appropriately hydraulic fluid under pressure passesthrough pipe 52 into cylinder 40 and moves piston rod 41 to the left.Movement of rod 41 to the left moves slide 56 to the left and plate 60bearing against the end of member 20 moves member 20 with slide 56 tothe left. Movement of slide 56 to the left moves tailpiece of hook 78 inguides 81 and 82 and rotates hook 78 in a counterclockwise direction asseen in Fig. 10 about pivot 79 so that book 78 embraces member 20.Movement of member 20 to the left, as described, brings side 21 thereofinto die 98; side 22 into die 97; and web 23 into die 96, stops beingprovided in dies 9698 to determine the length of the prongs formed onthe fence post. This stage of the bending and forming operation is seenbest in Fig. 6.

Thereafter, further movement of member 20 to the left acting throughsides 21 and 22 and web 23 in their respective dies moves member 86 tothe left against the action of spring 85. As member 86 moves to theleft, dies 96, 97 and 98 slide over uprights 90, 91 and 92,respectively, and rotate about their pivots 99, 100 and 101,respectively and stop at positions approaching parallel with the uppersurface of base 39. This rotary movement of dies 96, 97 and 98 startsthe bending of sides 21 and 22 and web 23 about hook 78. This stage 12fthe bending and forming operation is best seen in Further movement ofmember 20 to the left moves member 86 further to the left until itsmotion is stopped by spring and dies 96, 97 and 98 rotate into parallelWith bed 39, completing the bending of sides 21 and 22 and web 23 abouthook 78 and bending the ends of sides 21 and 22 and web 23 to formprongs which extend at right angles to the balance of their respectiveleg portions. This stage of the bending and forming operation is bestseen in Fig. 8.

The operator then reverses the position of lever 54 and hydraulic fluidunder pressure flows through pipe 53 into cylinder 40 to move rod 41 tothe right, low pressure hydraulic fluid returning from cylinder 40through pipe 52 to tank 44. Motion of rod 41 to the right moves slide 56to the right and member 20 is likewise moved to the right withdrawingthe formed leg portions of the fence post from their respective dies 96,97 and 98. At the same time spring 85 moves member 86 to the right anddie 96 drops by gravity onto its upright while dies 97 and 98 arereturned to position on their uprights 91 and 92, respectively, byspring 105. Toward the end of the movement of slide 56 to the righttailpiece 80 moving in guides 81 and 82 rotates hook 78 about pivot 79in a clockwise direction as seen in Fig. 10 to release member 20. Thisstage of the bending and forming operation is best seen in Fig. 9.

Thereafter, the operator moves handle 77 to the left to rotate lockbars66 and 70 about their respective pivots 67 and 71 to the dotted positionshown in Fig. 2 so that the completed fence post may be removed fromslide 56.

It will now be apparent that the present invention in every waysatisfies the several objectives described above.

Changes in or additions to the above described illustrative embodimentof this invention may now be suggested to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the present inventive concept. Reference shouldtherefore be had to the appended claims to determine the scope of thisinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. In fence post forming apparatus, a carriage, manually operable meansfor controlling the reciprocation of said carriage, a fence post memberremovably mounted on and for movement with said carriage, leg formingportions of said fence post member extending beyond said carriage, a diemember for each of said leg portions receiving its respective legportion upon movement of said carriage in one direction and means onsaid apparatus for supporting each of said die members and said meanspermitting rotation of said die members outwardly into parallel with thedirection of motion of said carriage upon further movement of saidcarriage in said one direction while maintaining said die members at apredetermined angle with each other.

2. In fence post forming apparatus, a carriage, manually controlledhydraulic means for reciprocating said carriage, a fence post memberH-shaped in cross section removably mounted on and for movement withsaid carriage having three leg forming portions comprising the two sidesand the web thereof extending beyond said carriage, a hook rotatableinto position embracing said fence post member at the inner end of saidleg forming portions upon movement of said carriage in one direction, ahollow die member for each of said leg portions receiving its respectiveleg portion upon movement of said carriage in said one direction andsupport means for said die members permitting rotation thereof intoparallel with the direction of movement of said carriage upon furthermovement of said carriage in said one direction while maintaining saiddie members at a predetermined angle with each other.

3. In apparatus for forming a fence post from an extended metal memberH-shaped in cross section and sheared adjacent an end separating the webfrom the sides thereof, a carriage, manually operable means forremovably securing said member on said carriage, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage in direction lengthwise of said member, a hollow diemember for each side and for the Web of said member receiving itsrespective side and Web upon motion of said carriage in one directionand resiliently mounted support means for said die members permittingrotation thereof outwardly into parallel with the direction of movementof said carriage upon further movement of said carriage in said onedirection while maintaining said die members at a predetermined anglewith each other.

4. In apparatus for forming a fence post from a member H-shaped in crosssection and having a web separated from the sides of said memberadjacent an end thereof, a carriage, manually operable means forremovably securing said member to said carriage, means for reciprocatingsaid carriage along the line of the length of said member, a hollow diemember for each side and for the web of said member receiving itsrespective portion of said member upon movement of said carriage in onedirection, support means for said die members movable in the line of thelength of said member, and

resilient means opposing movement of said support means, said supportmeans permitting rotation of said die members into parallel with theline of the length of said member upon further movement of said carriagein said one direction While maintaining said die members at apredetermined angle with each other.

5. In apparatus for forming a fence post, a member divided into legforming portions adjacent an end thereof, a carriage, power means forreciprocating said carriage, locking means for removably securing saidmemher on said carriage parallel to the line of reciprocation thereof,an open ended tubular die for each leg portion of said member receivingits respective portion upon movement of said carriage in one direction,support means for said dies movable in the line of movement of saidmember, resilient means opposing movement of said support means, andmeans for mounting each of said dies on said support means for rotationinto spaced parallel rotation with the line of movement of said memberwhile maintaining said dies at a predetermined angle with respect toeach other.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 5 including a hook rotatably mountedon said carriage and guide means for said hook rotating said hook intoposition embracing said member adjacent the end of said leg formingportions when said carriage is moved in said one direction.

7. Apparatus as described in claim 5 including spring means urging theopen ends of said dies together.

8. Apparatus as described in claim 5 in which said support means includea shaft supported in the line of movement of said member, a sleevemounted for movement on said shaft, said resilient means opposingmovement of said sleeve on said shaft, an upright on said sleeve foreach of said dies and circumferentially spaced at a predetermined anglewith each other, means for pivotally mounting each of said dies at theouter end of its respective upright, and an upright on said shaft forand engaging each of said dies and rotating said dies into spacedparallel relation with the line of movement of said memher when saidsleeve is moved on said shaft against said resilient means.

9. In apparatus for bending and forming longitudinally extendingportions of a body member, a carriage, power means for reciprocatingsaid carriage, means for removably securing said member on said carriageparallel to the line of movement thereof, a die for each of saidportions receiving its respective portion upon movement of said carriagein one direction, and means on said apparatus for supporting each ofsaid dies and said means permitting rotation of said dies outwardly intospaced parallel relationship with the line of movement of said memberupon further movement of said carriage in said one direction whilemaintaining said dies at a predetermined angle with each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS116,012 Beecher June 20, 1871 150,471 Higgins May 5, 1874 277,658 ArthurMay 15, 1883 717,178 Earle Dec. 30, 1902 1,104,166 Coflelder July 21,1914 1,274,936 Reynolds Aug. 6, 1918 1,515,894 Taylor Nov. 18, 19241,982,400 Riemenschneider Nov. 27, 1934 2,554,887 Tricarico May 29, 1951FOREIGN PATENTS 723,208 France Ian. 12, 1932

